What's the DSG like to drive?

[johnw]

My feeling is the DSG prefers to be driven harder... as opposed to pottering along in slow traffic where the shifting in D mode is a little odd at times.

I have to agree. While I don't have a Polo, the DSG in the Passat is either eco mode [D] or full blast [S].

Especially on entering a freeway with a curve, I sometimes want to push on a bit, but in D it shifts up to 4 or 5 and sit at 2000 ish rpm. S on the otherhand is overkill, it'll be on 2 or 3rd and sit at 5-6000rpm when I just need about 3-4K rpm. I just use manual mode in this case.

In S the shifts are smooth and faultless, but I find that if you try to drive hard in D, SOMETIMES it gets confused with a lot of varying throttle input.

DSG is awesome, once you get used to it.

[bnescooter]

My feeling is the DSG prefers to be driven harder... as opposed to pottering along in slow traffic where the shifting in D mode is a little odd at times.

Completely agree

[GTI JOE]

Agree^...The DSG is a little uneasy at low and taking off speeds. D mode for economy does work. I had it on S for a couple of hundred Kms and performance was excellent, but, fuel economy went out the window.

[bnescooter]

Agree^...The DSG is a little uneasy at low and taking off speeds. D mode for economy does work. I had it on S for a couple of hundred Kms and performance was excellent, but, fuel economy went out the window.

It chews the fuel in S all the time. I'm assuming this is the DSG but I do get a bit of a rattle and clunkiness at low speed. Did see another thread talking about that I think.

[GTI JOE]

I haven't noticed a rattle as yet (the one everyone has been talking about), I only had the DSG in D mode in low/high speeds and S mode only high speed. I will check to see if there is a rattle in low speed in S mode today. Touch wood, hopefully I won't get the rattle. Hey bnescooter, how's the APR stage one going? Are you getting better fuel economy? and has it fixed any DSG issues? I'm sure others would be interested to know

[bnescooter]

I haven't noticed a rattle as yet (the one everyone has been talking about), I only had the DSG in D mode in low/high speeds and S mode only high speed. I will check to see if there is a rattle in low speed in S mode today. Touch wood, hopefully I won't get the rattle. Hey bnescooter, how's the APR stage one going? Are you getting better fuel economy? and has it fixed any DSG issues? I'm sure others would be interested to know

I have to get the rattle checked out ... As far as the apr stage 1 is concerned it is a must buy, the boost is great from standstill, just ask my poor tyres and the XR5 that tried it on. Fuel consumption can be high but I suspect that has more to do with the driver than the tune. The tune doesn't adjust anything with the DSG I believe. I'm just testing a second revision of the stage 1 at the moment. The car currently has one tune option - fast.

[GTI mk6]

I have to get the rattle checked out ... As far as the apr stage 1 is concerned it is a must buy, the boost is great from standstill, just ask my poor tyres and the XR5 that tried it on. Fuel consumption can be high but I suspect that has more to do with the driver than the tune. The tune doesn't adjust anything with the DSG I believe. I'm just testing a second revision of the stage 1 at the moment. The car currently has one tune option - fast.

Could you clarify a couple of things pls bnescooter?
1. The “rattle" you mention, is that different to the well documented chirp/squeal upon
acceleration which is also what Dav is now experiencing, posted in the new Polo
problems register? If it is the same, how many k's had you clocked up?

2. I had also noticed the slight hesitation on take off, but didn't relate that to the
DSG, as my Golf GTi also has DSG and no hesitation at all on take off.
I thought it was the twin charger turbo due to this being quiet noticeable when test
driving a few Golf 118 TSi's almost two years ago. Didnt feel it was as bad in the
Polo GTi, so just assumed it was due to being tuned differently as they have the
same 1.4 engines.

Just a footnote regarding any mods, not all car insurers will cover you for this, or
they may increase the premium.
Asked AAMI a while back (looking at the APR stage 1) they were okay about it and no
extra cost to premium but I know this is not the case with all insurers, something to
maybe consider

[Ralfi]

Agree^...The DSG is a little uneasy at low and taking off speeds. D mode for economy does work. I had it on S for a couple of hundred Kms and performance was excellent, but, fuel economy went out the window.

What fuel economy are we talking when in D & S modes?

My current GTI sits around 7.9-9l/100km.

[broxigar1983]

What fuel economy are we talking when in D & S modes?

My current GTI sits around 7.9-9l/100km.

Not a big difference, well not in Mine . S might be 1 or 2lt/100km more, but that is only because it doesn't change through the gears as fast as in D. And in my case after a trip around town in S mode, it usually ends up around 13l/100km compared to 6l/100 in D.

So, S mode for after pay day and D mode for the rest of the month

[GTI JOE]

LOL, yes, my guesstimate would be about the same. More accurate figures when I get around to it. Enjoying the ride too much at the moment

[ATYPIC]

I'm not sure what others are experiencing in S mode but yesterday something a little odd occurred. I decided to test the gear changes on the country back roads at higher speeds but I was a little a taken back by the DSG's hesitation to change gears.

Guys don't judge me here as I'm far from a lunatic behind the wheel, but as I approached 160kmh the car was still in 4th gear and hesitating another gear change. I began thinking what damn speed will I be doing before I get to 7th. I know the car revs high to around 6-6500 before changing gear but my mate who drives a 300kw FPV ute with sports tiptronic was in the car with me and asked WTF is happening here and implied I may have an issue.

Any thoughts??

[johnw]

While I've never tried it at 160km/h (in Melbourne? WTF? ) If I have it in S at 100, it will keep it at 3rd which I think is overkill.

I guess the S is intended for sporty driving and not cruising/constant speed, thus the reluctance to shift up.

[ATYPIC]

While I've never tried it at 160km/h (in Melbourne? WTF? ) If I have it in S at 100, it will keep it at 3rd which I think is overkill.

I guess the S is intended for sporty driving and not cruising/constant speed, thus the reluctance to shift up.

Hahha!...no I wasn't in Melbourne doing that speed but in the country as mentioned.

I do agree with your comment RE. not intended for cruising/constant speed...but it baffles me why VW might build a high tech DSG transmission with a sport mode which evidently performs better with short spurts of power @ high revs like on hilly or mountainous terrain. Yet on the flip side its definate overkill for city driving.

I'm far from an expert on any of this but it seems a little inane does it not?

[johnw]

Hahha!...no I wasn't in Melbourne doing that speed but in the country as mentioned.

I do agree with your comment RE. not intended for cruising/constant speed...but it baffles me why VW might build a high tech DSG transmission with a sport mode which evidently performs better with short spurts of power @ high revs like on hilly or mountainous terrain. Yet on the flip side its definate overkill for city driving.

I'm far from an expert on any of this but it seems a little inane does it not?

Oh yeah I meant Melbourne/Vic, up in Darwin that speed is pretty normal

I think you're right in that VW intended it for short spurts of power @ high revs, I only use it for 20-30 sec at a time at the most. Don't think it was intended to be left in S mode (Just like people don't always drive in enthusiastic/Hoon mode).

[broxigar1983]

...Guys don't judge me here as I'm far from a lunatic behind the wheel, but as I approached 160kmh the car was still in 4th gear and hesitating another gear change. I began thinking what damn speed will I be doing before I get to 7th...

Any thoughts??

7th in S @ max revs = warp drive

I've noticed with mine that in S the DSG will keep the gear if you don't lift off the pedal a bit, it will then start changing gears again.

I think VW developed it so that it keeps the gear you are in till required revs or till you lift off a bit.

I think S is definitely designed with track days in mind I think where you would like to keep keep high revs to accelerate out of corners in 3rd instead of 6th

PS. I get over 100km/h in 3rd when thrashing it in S, so 160 in 4th seems reasonable. And you can ask your FPV friend if he can do 160 in 4th, then laugh in his face if not